What we can learn from Climategate

If we were to grant the skeptics the greatest benefit of the doubt for a moment, we can say that this week's "scandal" might, if their worst-case allegations are verified, indicate that the Earth is warming slightly slower than had been feared. It's still warming and it's still being caused by GHG emissions.

If that eventually does prove to be the case, the whole host of characters on the right cheering about these stolen e-mails should whole-heartled endorse Obama's cautious Copenhagen targets:

At the international climate summit in Copenhagen next month, Mr. Obama will tell the delegates that the United States intends to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions “in the range of” 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050, officials said, reflecting the targets specified by legislation that passed the House in June but is stalled in the Senate.

I won't be holding my breath for that to happen anytime soon.